SDE
to Announce 2003 Public School Ratings
On Monday, August 4, at 11:00 a.m. Media Briefing

(Santa Fe, NM)— The New Mexico State Department of Education
(SDE) will announce public school ratings for 2003-2004 at a media briefing
on Monday, August 4, from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m., at the SDE, Mabry Hall,
located at 300 Don Gaspar in Santa Fe. Ratings for 741 of New Mexico’s
750 public schools will be released at the briefing.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael J. Davis will be
joined by Dr. Melville Morgan, the SDE’s assistant superintendent
of accountability, at the ratings announcement.

“With this year’s public school ratings announcement New
Mexico is beginning its three-year phase-in of federal requirements
for public school accountability. By breaking down student performance
by group this first year, we have a unique opportunity to close achievement
gaps and help ensure that public education serves all students,”
said State Superintendent Davis.

“The time is now for all of our stakeholders to engage in a conversation
about solving student achievement gaps. What we have learned from our
successes with corrective action schools is that improved student achievement
is possible when assumptions are challenged and adults commit to making
the changes needed to ensure that schools serve all children,”
he said.

This is the fourth year for public schools in New Mexico to be rated.
For 2003-2004, as required under the federal No Child Left Behind Act,
student achievement data have been disaggregated by groups of students
segmented by race, income level, special needs and English language
learners. Student achievement data has been combined across grade levels
by subject. Graduation rates have been added for secondary schools.
Further, if a school lacks 95% participation in any whole group or subgroup,
that group’s scores will not be able to rate above “meets
standards.”

As required under New Mexico State Board of Education regulation, status
and growth data points have been assigned.

The 2003-2004 ratings will be posted on the SDE’s web page following
the briefing at www.ped.state.nm.us.